title: Vascular procedures in nonagenarians and centenarians are safe.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An increasing number of elderly patients present for elective and emergent vascular procedures. The purpose of this study was to analyze the 30-day and long-term outcome of patients in their 10th decade of life undergoing vascular procedures.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed the outcomes of all patients in the 10th decade of life included in our registry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In a 15-year period, there were 176 patients, 102 women and 74 men, with a mean age of 92 (range 90-102) undergoing 196 vascular operations for acute and chronic limb ischemia, aortic and popliteal aneurysms, and carotid stenosis. Overall morbidity and mortality rates were comparable as well as the return to preoperative functional status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients in their 90s can safely undergo vascular procedures with reasonable early outcomes. Most patients return to their preoperative status. Age alone should not be a determinant in refusing surgery in this age group.
authors.affiliation: Michigan State University and Spectrum Health Hospitals, Grand Rapids, MI 49546-8815, USA.
authors.forename: Brian J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Wheatley
authors.forename: Jill M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gorsuch
authors.forename: M Ashraf
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mansour
authors.forename: Katherine A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Sage
authors.forename: Christopher M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Chambers
authors.forename: Robert F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Cuff
authors.forename: Peter Y
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Robert F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Cali
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000401:mortality